Chapter 248: It’s a pleasure to work with you.

--Monday, June 22, 2172

After Aizawa’s morning briefing, Kai said goodbye to Momo and headed to his workshop. As he entered, the workshop seemed to come to life: the lights switched on all at once, the coffee maker started brewing on its own, and the office computer powered up by itself. With an unhurried step, Kai took the cup of coffee from the machine, then walked to the office, where he set to work with a serious expression.

While he typed code at an astonishing speed, Kai took an occasional sip of coffee. But suddenly, Sage, the beautiful fairy who was sitting near his keyboard, turned to look at him and announced in a serious tone through their mental link.

[Master, there are some strange movements from a few of U.A.’s technical workers.]

[More rats?]

The hand Kai was bringing—coffee cup and all—to his lips froze in midair as he looked at the beautiful fairy and asked, a dangerous light shining in his blue eyes. Sage created several holographic screens in front of her master as she explained gravely.

[I don’t have conclusive proof, but they’ve been discreetly gathering information on you, Momo, Todoroki, and Bakugo. They seem especially interested in you and Momo.]

[Could it be because we won the sports festival, or is there something else…?] Kai asked, almost rhetorically, as he turned to look out the window, a murderous glint in his eyes. Sage replied soberly.

[There’s no way to know, Master, but I think it’s important to start digging into them thoroughly.]

[I’ll leave it to you, Sage, but focus especially on the ones seeking information about Momo. I don’t want a single rat slipping through the net.] Kai ordered in a cold tone. Sage nodded with an equally cold expression, her wings beginning to shine in different colors.

[Leave it in my hands, Master.]

As he nodded to Sage, Kai suddenly felt someone familiar approaching his workshop, so he closed his eyes and began to drink his coffee in slow, steady sips to calm himself.

Not long after, Kai typed a simple command into his computer, which caused the workshop’s outer door to open. On the other side stood a beautiful girl about to knock. She had pink hair and strange yellow eyes with a cross-shaped iris, and she was wearing black work coveralls.

“Saito-kun! Your monthly stipend arrived!”

Seeing the door open, Hatsume Mei announced energetically, pointing at a kind of floating lift behind her loaded with several large metal crates. Kai set his coffee cup on the table and commented in a calm tone.

“You can leave it in the corner.”

“Got it!” Mei chirped, then drove the hoverlift to the corner in front of the door that led to the “real workshop” before returning to Kai with a tablet in hand and announcing with a smile.

“Approval, please!”

Kai placed his thumb on the tablet, leaving his print, at which point it displayed an approval message.

“Perfect! And since the job is finished…”

After confirming approval, Mei casually set the tablet on the desk, then pulled out a phone and hurriedly checked some notes. A few seconds later, Mei nodded, looked Kai in the eyes, and then “peeled off” the top half of her coveralls and tied it around her waist, leaving her upper half dressed only in a thin black sleeveless shirt.

Immediately after, Mei lowered the neckline of her top and adjusted her ample breasts, making them look quite provocative. Satisfied with her cleavage, Mei leaned on the desk, giving Kai a “good view,” as she spoke in a voice trying to sound “seductive.”

“Saito~”

“I figured you personally making the delivery didn’t bode well...” Kai couldn’t help but say, a little amused. He then looked into Mei’s curious eyes and asked casually.

“But why do you want to ‘seduce me’ now? What do you want?”

“Hehe, I read somewhere that women’s weapons are very effective against young men, and you’ve got way too much ‘condenium’; you should share a little~”

Mei struck a “sexy” pose, awkwardly trying to imitate a “sultry” way of speaking. Kai couldn’t help laughing at Mei’s uncomfortable attempt at seduction, but he still pointed at a small box among those she had brought and said casually.

“Take that box. I’ll deduct it from your monthly research allowance.”

“Saito~”

Mei couldn’t help pouting “sensually,” not wanting to take a “loss.” But seeing the blue-eyed young man remain unmoved and turn back to the computer, Mei quickly grabbed her phone to review her carefully organized notes. A moment later, Mei set her elbows on the desk, which accentuated her chest, and said in a “playful” voice while touching her lips.

“Good boys always get rewards~”

“You’ve got the body, but not the attitude to seduce. You’re still a long way from being able to shake me.” Kai rolled his eyes, a bit amused by Mei’s antics, while she clicked her tongue in annoyance and looked back at her notes. But at that moment, Kai’s calm voice sounded again.

“You do know I have a girlfriend, right? Drop the act—you’re not going to seduce me.”

“So what if you have a girlfriend? It’s not like that stops you from being a man.” Mei replied in confusion but quickly let it go and picked up a huge wrench, then added with a smile, following the last note on her phone.

“Besides, no man can deny a beautiful and super talented assistant! Just think of all the babies we could create together! Your girlfriend can’t match that!”

Kai couldn’t help facepalming as Mei started adjusting her neckline again to make it even more revealing. Just then, a somewhat uncomfortable voice sounded from the entrance.

“Looks like I’m interrupting—I’ll come back later.”

“Mei was just leaving.”

Kai looked at the Symbol of Peace in the doorway and spoke calmly, which made an annoyed pout form on Mei’s face. She quickly grabbed the box Kai had offered her and declared with conviction as she left the workshop.

“Sooner or later you’ll fall, Saito! You’ll end up being the father of my Babies!”

The Symbol of Peace couldn’t help looking at Mei with a slightly uncomfortable expression, but at that moment Kai’s calm voice sounded in the workshop.

“Come in, I was just about to talk to you.”

“… I thought you were engaged.” As he sat on the main couch in the room, All Might couldn’t help commenting with a hint of discomfort. Kai, who had started making tea for All Might, rolled his eyes and replied.

“I am. Mei is just a talented inventor, but far too ‘enthusiastic.’ Since I have this workshop, access to hard-to-get materials and tools, and enough money to invest, she’s got me in her sights to be the ‘father’ of her ‘Babies.’ Basically, her sponsor.”

“I see. Forgive me for jumping to conclusions, Saito-shonen.” All Might reached out to take the cup of tea Kai offered and spoke with a small smile. Kai sat across from All Might and asked, visibly curious.

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s focus on more productive things. How do you feel? I can see you’ve recovered a good part of your strength.”

“I feel incredible. Honestly, I never imagined I could recover so much of my original power…” All Might replied with a slightly excited voice as he clenched his right fist, sending a small shockwave rippling through the workshop.

“Do you feel any physical discomfort? Headaches? Dizziness? Any sporadic sensation of weakness?” Kai asked as he carefully examined All Might’s silhouette with his black-and-white vision. After thinking for a few seconds, All Might replied seriously.

“The first day I felt some dizziness and a slight headache, but yesterday and today I’ve felt perfectly fine—not much different from when I had the One For All.”

“I see. Then how about we put your newly recovered power to work?” Kai asked with a smile as he walked to a nearby filing cabinet and took out a folder, which he set open on the table in front of All Might. Seeing the documents, All Might’s eyes immediately narrowed.

“Is this…?”

“A detailed plan to take down the quirk thief.”

Kai replied with a dangerous smile, which led All Might to review the papers with a deep, thoughtful expression. While All Might examined the documents, Kai sipped his coffee for a couple of minutes, then, seeing All Might reach the important part, explained calmly.

“The guy with the hands has been gathering people, and the quirk thief is making suspicious moves, shifting things between bases I’ve identified. They’re getting ready to make a big strike, so we have to catch them off guard and hit before they can prepare.”

“You want to strike after the final exams…?” All Might asked, almost rhetorically, as he looked at the documents. Kai nodded and replied, setting his cup on the table.

“Yes, it’s a good time. I’m busy upgrading my family’s heroes’ gear right now, and I’ll be finished by then.”

Hearing Kai, All Might closed his eyes for a few seconds to consider all the possibilities but soon reached a conclusion. Kai was strong—possibly stronger than he was right now, based on what he’d seen on the island. He also had strange, almost magical abilities, even more unpredictable than All For One himself. Therefore, teaming up with him was necessary to ensure the mission’s success.

“I understand, Kai-shonen. I agree—let’s attack All For One together.”

After a few minutes, All Might set the documents on the table and announced solemnly, looking Kai in the eyes. Kai smiled and extended his hand to the Symbol of Peace as he spoke with visible satisfaction.

“It’s a pleasure to work with you.”

“The pleasure is mine as well, Kai-shonen.”

All Might gripped Kai’s hand firmly and spoke with confidence. Although he still knew Kai was a bit erratic and could end up causing problems in the future, All Might didn’t see him as an enemy—or he would never have given him back his strength.

Soon, Kai released All Might’s hand and walked to the filing cabinet, from which he took out a new folder. He set it on the table with a small smile.

“By the way, now that we’ve reached an agreement, let’s talk about the compensation we discussed last time.”

Seeing the photo of the green-haired woman among the documents, All Might’s left eyelid couldn’t help twitching violently—especially at the playful smile on Kai’s lips. With a start, All Might jumped to his feet and began hurrying toward the exit, speaking rapidly.

“Kai-shonen, there’s no need to bring up those matters. Returning my strength is such a great favor that I feel deeply in your debt. In the near future, I’ll think of a way to repay you. For now I’m late for a class—we’ll talk later.”

Kai couldn’t help laughing, amused, as he watched the Symbol of Peace run out. After a few moments, Kai closed the workshop door and went to pour another cup of coffee, then returned to his office to work with a serious expression.

…

As time passed in silence, with Kai typing at high speed, Sage focused entirely on her work, performing multiple tasks in parallel based on their priority. But suddenly, in an asynchronous processing thread, Sage noticed something that powerfully caught her attention; her hands stilled, and she turned to look at her master.

[Something wrong?] Noticing Sage’s slight movement, Kai asked, a bit curious. The fairy created a holographic screen in front of her master and explained in a tone laden with curiosity.

[One of the asynchronous threads tasked with investigating what happened in the Granadan Federation detected something unusual, Master.]

Kai looked at the security video Sage showed on the holographic screen, where a man dressed in black could be seen in the distance taking the hand of an elegantly dressed woman. They then turn into a puddle of water and disappear.

[When exactly did that happen?]

***

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